Language & culture
Hand Gestures That Mean Different Things Abroad
Several hand gestures that are offensive in other countries look completely harmless at home: the OK sign, a thumbs up, a V sign with the palm facing in, a curled finger that says "come here" and an open palm pushed toward someone. None of them is rude everywhere, but each has places where it can land badly.
On a video chat, your hands are often your backup language, so it helps to know which gestures travel and which don't. Meanings vary within countries and shift over time, especially as films and social media spread American habits, so treat this as a guide to what might be misread, not a rulebook.
Quick reference: gestures with different meanings by country
| Gesture | Usual meaning in the US and UK | Can be rude or mean something else in | Safer on camera |
|---|---|---|---|
| OK sign (thumb and index finger in a circle) | Okay, all good | Brazil and Turkey (insult); France and Belgium (zero, worthless); Japan (money) | Nod and say "okay" |
| Thumbs up | Good, yes | Traditionally rude in parts of West Africa and the Middle East, including Iran | Smile and nod |
| V sign with the palm facing you | Two | UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand (rude) | Turn the palm outward, or type the number |
| Curled index finger | Come here | The Philippines, Japan, Korea and China (rude when aimed at people) | Palm down, fingers sweeping toward you |
| Open palm pushed toward someone | Stop, wait | Greece (a traditional insult called the moutza) | Say "one second" with a small wave |
| Horns (index and little finger raised) | Rock music | Italy and some other Mediterranean countries (insult) | Leave it out |
| Fig (thumb between two fingers) | The "got your nose" game | Turkey and parts of Eastern Europe (rude); Brazil (good luck) | Leave it out |
| Pointing a finger at someone | That one, you | Impolite in many cultures, including parts of Asia and Africa | Gesture with an open hand |
Thumbs up and the OK sign
These are the two gestures people use most on camera, and the two most likely to be misread.
Thumbs up
In most of the world today, a thumbs up means "good" or "yes," helped along by decades of films and the like button on social media. But it has traditionally been an insult in parts of West Africa and the Middle East, including Iran. Many people there know the Western meaning now, especially younger people, but not everyone will read it the way you intend.
The OK sign
The thumb-and-index-finger circle may be the most misread gesture of all. In Brazil and in Turkey, it has traditionally been an insult. In France and Belgium it can mean "zero" or "worthless," and in Japan it can stand for money. Saying "okay" out loud with a nod gets the same message across with no risk.
If you're unsure about a gesture, say the word with it. If the gesture lands badly, the word explains what you meant.
Rude hand gestures around the world to skip
Some gestures are fine in one place and a clear insult in another, so it's simplest to leave them out of chats with strangers.
- The backward V sign. Two fingers raised with the back of your hand toward the other person is a rude gesture in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. With the palm facing out, it means peace or victory, and it's a popular photo pose across East Asia.
- The horns. In rock culture it means "rock on," but in Italy and some other Mediterranean countries it's a well-known insult.
- The fig. A thumb poking out between the index and middle fingers is rude in Turkey and parts of Eastern Europe; in Russia it means "you get nothing." In Brazil, the same shape is a good-luck charm called the figa.
- The moutza. In Greece, an open palm with fingers spread, pushed toward someone's face, is a traditional insult. A normal friendly wave is fine; it's the pushing motion that counts.
Beckoning, pointing and showing numbers
Everyday hand signals cause more mix-ups than obvious insults, because people don't realize they're gesturing at all.
- Beckoning. Curling one finger toward yourself is how you'd call an animal in the Philippines, and it's considered impolite in Japan, Korea and China too. People there usually beckon with the palm down and fingers sweeping toward them, a motion some Westerners mistake for "go away."
- Pointing. Pointing a finger directly at someone is impolite in many cultures. On camera it can also look like you're jabbing at the viewer. Use an open hand, palm up, when you mean "you" or "your turn."
- Counting. In Germany and much of Europe, people often count "one" on the thumb, so a raised thumb and index finger means two. In China there are one-hand signs for six to ten: thumb and little finger out means six, and thumb and index finger out means eight. When a number matters, type it in the chat.
Nods, head shakes and other body signals
Gestures aren't only about hands. A few head movements and postures flip meaning too.
- Bulgaria: Traditionally, a nod can mean no and a shake of the head can mean yes. Many Bulgarians switch to the international version with foreigners, which only adds to the confusion, so confirm out loud.
- Greece and Turkey: A quick upward tilt of the head, sometimes with raised eyebrows or a click of the tongue, means no.
- South Asia: The side-to-side head tilt common in India and nearby can mean yes, okay or "I'm listening," depending on context.
- Feet: Showing the soles of your feet is rude in many Middle Eastern countries and in Thailand. If you sit with your feet up on the desk, keep them out of frame.
Video lag makes head movements even harder to read. For more on reading faces and posture through a webcam, see our guide on how to read body language on video calls.
Safe gestures for video chat
When you need your hands to help you communicate, especially with someone who doesn't share your language, these are the least likely to cause trouble:
- A relaxed wave for hello and goodbye.
- A smile and a nod for "yes" or "I understand."
- Miming everyday actions: eating, sleeping, driving, typing, drinking coffee.
- Holding up an object instead of describing it.
- An open hand, palm up, for "you" or "your turn."
- A hand on your chest for "me."
For more ways to get a message across without shared words, read how to talk to someone who doesn't speak your language. Pairing a gesture with the right word helps too, and our guide to saying hello in 30 languages is a good place to start.
Meanings change, so ask
Gestures behave a lot like slang: they vary by region, generation and social group, and new meanings appear online all the time. A gesture that offends older people in one country can be perfectly normal among younger people there, and the reverse happens too. As with learning slang in a foreign language, the best source is a real person.
Asking turns a possible mistake into a conversation: "Does a thumbs up mean anything different where you are?" Most people enjoy explaining, and if you've slipped, a quick "Sorry, I didn't know that one" is all it takes.
If someone uses a gesture to insult you on purpose, you don't need to work out exactly what it meant. On Omlet's random video chat, press Next to move on, or use the flag on their video to report harassment.